Tag Archives | Air Conditioning Contractor Ft Myers

Electrical Problems Common In Air Conditioners

By kurthartmann on 04/16/2014 in Air Conditioning Information

Community Cooling and Heating Inc.
239-267-2117

Electrical problems are one of the most common sources of air conditioner problems!

A common source of air conditioner trouble in Fort Myers is electrical problems. As electricity travel through wires it creates heat, which can deteriorate the housing that surrounds the wires, making them more susceptible to drying out, cracks, and shorts. This is one of the prime reasons it pays to have your air conditioning equipment checked by a licensed contractor at least once a year.

Most of the wiring in your air conditioning equipment is hidden by panels and plates, obscuring them from the homeowners sight. And a/c contractor can access those wires and connections and determine the likelihood of failure in the upcoming months.

Inspection by a licensed air conditioning contractor is the best way you can prevent small problems from becoming large, expensive problems!

Improper voltage due to damaged or faulty wiring can lead to other components within your air conditioner to break down or wear out faster then they would 3 normal use.

The slideshow below shows pictures of wiring in electrical problems we encountered in the past few months.

Air conditioners & electrical problems ft myers, florida from acserviceftmyers

Air conditioner service and inspection is your best bet to keep your equipment running effectively,

efficiently, and safely!

CALL TODAY!
COMMUNITY COOLING AND HEATING TNC.
Fort Myers, Florida
239-267-2117

Corrosion And “Growth” In Ft Myers Air Conditioners

By kurthartmann on 04/09/2014 in Air Conditioning Information

Air Conditioning Service and Repair Ft Myers

Fort Myers air conditioning units face an uphill battle against mold and corrosion! The long summer months with high humidity and heavy rainfall, accompanied by the moisture created during the process of removing latent heat from the air in your home make your air conditioning unit a prime breeding ground for mold, mildew, and corrosion. Often times these problems can go undetected for months, or even years, as they are generally inside an a/c unit and not visible without opening the equipment up and thoroughly inspecting it.

Air Conditioning, Mold, & Corrosion in Ft Myers, Florida from Rick Thomas

As mold grows inside an air conditioning unit it creates a serious threat to the health of al who live there! The fans that move the air through your home, or business, pick up the mold spores and distribute them throughout the building. Many times we have encountered people who have suffered with allergic symptoms (congestion, difficulty breathing), or what they thought were asthma symptoms, whose health improved drastically after the mold was removed from their home! They never suspected a mold problem because …

THE MOLD WAS GROWING WHERE IT COULDN’T BE SEEN…

INSIDE THEIR AIR CONDITIONER!!!

Corrosion also often times hides deep within an a/c unit. Corrosion can lead to the rapid deterioration of the structural integrity of your equipment as well as diminish the effectiveness and lifespan of the individual component parts. If caught early the impact of mold and corrosion can be greatly reduced if not completely eliminated!

From Air Conditioning Service Ft Myers

Corrosion left unchecked can lead to a number of serious issues such as diminished levels of comfort in the home, loss of coolant (freon etc …), and even fire! The best way to protect your home, family, and property from the dangers of mold and corrosion are regular inspection and maintenance by a licensed Ft Myers air conditioning contractor.

Community Cooling and Heating

239-267-2117

Air Conditioner Ready For Summer?

By kurthartmann on 04/02/2014 in Air Conditioning Information

Community Cooling and Heating Inc.

239-267-2117

Serving Ft Myers since 1970

The last thing you want is air conditioner trouble in the heat of the Summer!!!

Getting the most out of your air conditioner is not just about getting as many years of service from it as possible, or keeping repair and maintenance bills to an absolute minimum. Getting the most from your a/c equipment also means maintaining the comfort of your home at the times when you need it the most! Summer is upon us again, the time of year when our a/c units are put to their most critical test.

Is your air conditioner ready for the onslaught of summer!?!?

The best way to be certain your equipment is ready for the heavy work load in the approaching months is to have it inspected and serviced by a local licensed air conditioning contractor. A thorough check-up is the best way to make sure your home stays cool and comfortable during Florida’s long summer, without driving your electric bill higher unnecessarily. Even a “top of the line”, “energy efficient” piece of equipment costs more to run (and will have to run longer) to achieve your desired level of comfort.

Kurt Hartmann, Owner/President of Community Cooling and Heating Inc.

Community Cooling and Heating is offering a 16 point cooling system check which includes:

Clean your condenser coils.
Check operating pressures
Check electrical connections
Check sub-cooling
Check fan blade
Lubricate moving parts
Clean air filters
check thermostat
Check blower operation
Check controls
Check superheat
Check temperature drop across evaporator
Clean indoor coil if visible
Check complete unit operation
Treat condesate line and pan
Make necessary recommendations

Call Today For Reliable, Expert Service

239-267-2117

Air Conditioner Thermostats Could Contain Mercury

By kurthartmann on 03/24/2014 in Air Conditioning Information

Community Cooling and Heating Inc.

239-267-2117

Many Ft Myers air conditioning systems contain toxic mercury despite the availability of safer, more efficient equipment!

In the first few hours of last weeks mercury spill in an Arcadia Florida Public School there was no information given as to where the child that brought the elemental mercury to school had gotten it. My first assumption was that he had probably gotten it from an old, discarded air conditioner thermostat. While most people today know how toxic mercury is, many of those same people don’t know that they have it inside their home.

Older air conditioner thermostats may contain elemental mercury!

“… mercury switch thermostats are safe and reliable while in use and mounted to the wall … it’s when they are discarded, or left laying in the garage or workshop, that they pose a threat …”

In the course of 44 years repairing air conditioners in SW Florida we have never encountered a mercury switch fail to the extent that it leaked mercury in a home. There have been numerous times, however, where we have seen them laying in tool boxes or on work benches and in harms way! We have even had a few ask us to leave the thermostat behind because they wanted to “check out the mercury!”

We always discourage this!

While contact with the skin is unlikely to expose one to toxic levels of mercury, the fumes given off by the mercury are another story. The amount of fumes given off by mercury have more to do with the surface area than the overall mass of the substance. Just a few grams, spilled onto a porous surface, and not cleaned up thoroughly, can emit toxic fumes for weeks. Combine this with poor ventilation, and frequent exposure and you could have a problem.

Quick Tip: When mercury is spilled in “difficult to get to” cracks and crevices, try using an eyedropper to gather it up.

CHILDREN AND INFANTS HAVE FAR LESS TOLERANCE TO EXPOSURE THAN ADULTS!!!

How Mercury Affects The Body

Damage to lungs and breathing passages

Affects the central nervous system

Impaired kidney function

Thermostats with mercury are currently being phased out, and in some states are banned from being sold or manufactured. Today most major manufacturers of thermostats no longer make thermostats with mercury switches. The availability, and affordability, of today’s digital products has been edging them closer and closer to obsolescence with each passing year.

Newer digital thermostats are more efficient and contain no mercury.

Recycling mercury switch thermostats, at a certified collection center, is the best way to keep your home safe from toxic mercury fumes!”

Your local air conditioning repair contractor should be happy to take your old thermostat and dispose of it in an approved manner that eliminates the household hazard, and protects our environment as well. Additionally, many local HVAC supply houses are TRC approved thermostat collection locations.

TROPIC SUPPLY INC.
6450 ARC WAY FORT MYERS, FL 33912
305-652-7717

CARRIER ENTERPRISE
7916 DREW CIRCLE, #6
SUITE 6 FORT MYERS, FL 33967
239-768-9400

TROPIC SUPPLY INC.
785 N.E. 19 PL CAPE CORAL, FL 33903
305-652-7717

R.E. Michel Company, Inc.
1736 Trade Center Way Naples, FL 34109
239-227-2990

Tropic Supply Inc.
4325 DOMESTIC AVE NAPLES, FL 34104
305-652-7717

The Thermostat Recycling Corporation’s (TRC) thermostat collection program is an industry-sponsored private corporation, originally established by thermostat manufacturers General Electric, Honeywell, and White-Rodgers. TRC facilitates the collection of all brands of used, wall-mounted mercury-switch thermostats so that the mercury can be separated and recycled. Collection through the TRC program takes place through Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) wholesale outlets, HVAC contractors, and more recently through local household hazardous waste facilities throughout the U.S

www.thermostat-recycle.org

Electrical Problems Common In Air Conditioners

By kurthartmann on 03/02/2014 in Air Conditioner Repairs Ft Myers

“Wiring/electrical problems are one of the most common problems air conditioners face”

As a Ft Myers air conditioning contractor one of the most common problems I encounter on repair calls is a burned wire. Air conditioners in SW Florida work in fairly extreme conditions. Not only are a/c units sitting outside, exposed to sub-tropical heat and humidity, but also generate significant amounts of heat on their own. This one two punch of internal and external heat sources is hard on all parts of ones HVAC equipment, and especially hard on the housing that insulates the wiring inside your equipment.

From Electrical Air Conditioner Problems – Ft Myers

By the time a wire is visibly damaged it has already been something of a detriment to your air conditioning equipment for some time. Even a microscopic crack in the housing can cause arcing, minimal performance, and unnecessary strain on the various component parts that work independently, and in conjunction with each other, to provide a level of comfort that is satisfactory. Any variance in the voltage has the potential to throw the balance “out of whack”, causing the equipment to work harder to achieve the desired result, which often translates into higher utility bills, and equipment that doesn’t last as long as it should.

From Electrical Air Conditioner Problems – Ft Myers

“… damaged or improperly wired air conditioning units will cost more to operate, and deteriorate faster than properly maintained and serviced units will …”

Another common problem that arises in today’s air conditioners is an extremely simple one … many customers don’t realize their thermostat now runs on batteries instead of being wired directly to the homes electrical panel. We have gotten in the habit of asking our clients that call to check the batteries in their thermostat BEFORE we send a truck out on a service call. Too many times have we arrived on the scene only to discover all the client needed to fix the problem was two batteries they already had, sitting in their kitchen drawer!

From Electrical Air Conditioner Problems – Ft Myers

“… the good news about electrical problems is that they are, generally speaking, among the easiest and least expensive to repair.”

When experiencing electrical problems, or problems of any kind, with your air conditioner call …

Community Cooling and Heating Inc.
239-267-2117

Ft Myers Air Conditioning Solutions

By kurthartmann on 02/21/2014 in Air Conditioner Repairs Ft Myers

“When repairing air conditioners … Knowledge and experience are your most valuable tools!”

Air conditioning service contractors in Ft Myers often see a wide variety of problems arise in their clients equipment. High humidity, damp conditions, and warm temperatures can cause a wide variety of vegetative growths within the equipment. During hurricane season winds and high water can damage parts of the a/c exposed to the elements. Our air conditioners work longer hours, throughout a much longer year than our counterparts in the north due to the SW Florida heat.

Often times property owners aren’t present when we perform our check-ups or make repairs, they have to be at work or are otherwise engaged. Other times … for instance if the equipment is in the attic or on a roof … it isn’t practical for them to climb to where the equipment is located. We have gotten in the habit of always taking a digital camera or our cell phone with us so we can take pictures and explain our findings to our customers. The presentation below has pictures that display some of the equipment we have repaired recently.

“Even after 44 years of repairing Ft Myers’ air conditioners … once in a great while I occasionally see a problem I haven’t encountered yet, but I haven’t encountered one yet that couldn’t be fixed!”

Ft myers air conditioning problems from Rick Thomas

Every job is a little different than the other, from the location, to the problem, to the solution. After 40+ years of repairing a/c equipment in Fort Myers the variety of the challenges we face from day to day are a big part of what makes the job fun and interesting! When we find something of particular interest, new, or unique in any way we like to get a picture of it to share with the homeowner, and sometimes here as well.

Air Conditioning Service & Repair Ft Myers

Serving Ft Myers For Over 40 Years

Community Cooling and Heating Inc.

239-267-2117

Call Today!

We guarantee all our repairs and offer a Free Second Opinion

Interesting Facts Regarding The History Of Air Conditioning

By kurthartmann on 02/05/2014 in Air Conditioning Information

Air Conditioning Contractor Ft Myers

239-267-2117

Air conditioning, or controlling humidity and air temperature, is a concept that has appealed to people throughout the ages. Heating was a fairly simple matter, fire can be contained in a reasonably small space and warmth will radiate from it. Removing heat and moisture from the air, however, proved to be far more challenging! Over the years many cultures and civilizations have experimented with ways to create and improve on methods to keep their dwellings cool and comfortable.

During the 2nd century the Chinese used rotary fans and water to cool their dwellings.

Roman Emperor Elagabalus in the 3rd century had snow from the mountains carried in by teams of donkeys and piled up outside his home to keep it cool.

Wealthy citizens of ancient Rome circulated water from the aqueducts through the walls of their homes to keep it cool.

In 1820 an English inventor, Michael Farraday, discovered that liquefied ammonia would chill the air when allowed to evaporate.

In 1842 John Gorrie, a physician in Appalachicola, Florida used compressor technology to create ice and cool the air for his patients.

In 1851 Australian James Harrison invented an ice machine using vapor compression refrigeration, a predecessor of the technology used in our modern day equipment. His commercial ice making machine could make 6,600 pounds of ice per day!

In 1881 U.S. President James Garfield was dying. To keep him comfortable air was blown through cotton sheets doused in ice water. It is said that during his final 2 months over a half million pounds of ice were used for the process.

In 1902 Willis H. Carrier invented the 1st electric air conditioner. It was not designed with human comfort in mind, but, to reduce humidity in a printing plant where he was employed.

In 1922 Carrier invented the centrifugal chiller which significantly reduced the size of the equipment. The invention was made public in 1925 at the Rivoli Theater in New York on Memorial Day Weekend. Other theaters quickly added air conditioning and movie-going became a great way to beat the summer heat … one of the reasons summer is the traditional time for the biggest movies of the year to be released!

In 1928 Thomas Midgely invented Freon. Previous coolants were toxic and extremely flammable posing a serious threat to those who used the equipment.

We guarantee all our repairs and offer a Free Second Opinion

Our Motto is…“We won’t send you a wolf in sheep’s clothing …

… just an honest professional”

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What The News Press Had To Say About Us

TELL MEL ____________________________________________________- tellmel@newspress.com _____________________________________________________- Second opinion needed for AC fix _____________________________________________________ I don't usually do two air conditioning columns in a week, but Monday's column touched a nerve. So I thought I'd pass along some of the stories I've heard from AC company owners who have called. The first story comes courtesy of Kurt Hartmann of Community Cooling in Fort Myers. Hartmann gives free second opinions on other companies repair or replacement estimates. Recently, a woman who lives in a North Fort Myers mobile home park called him after another AC company had come to look at her unit. Several weeks earlier the woman had installed a thermostat and the AC worked fine. But when the weather turned cold, and she tried to get it to heat, the unit wouldn't work. She called a company, which will remain nameless. The technician removed the cover on the thermostat, examined it, and then went to look at the unit. His diagnosis: She needed a new relay and transformer. Total $2,300. Fortunately, the homeowner decided to brave the cold for a day and get a second opinion. Her unit was only six years old and she couldn't believe it needed such an expensive repair. When Hartmann's guy arrived, he too popped the cover off the thermostat. There he saw a switch with two positions for the heat - gas and electric. This thermostat had the switch in the position for gas, but she, like most people in Southwest Florida has an electric unit. When the thermostat was switched to the electric mode, the heater "worked like a champ" Hartmann said.